Label dispenser



Feb. 4, 1969 w. v0 ET AL 3,425,346

LABEL DISPENSER Sheet '1 of 4 Filed Feb. 26, 19

8 a B m kw v, Q Mm NN R R w mi INVENTORS WILHELM VOIGT OSCAR KIND BY 7mm! f fin Q, their ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1969 w. VOIGT ET AL 3,425,346

LABEL DISPENSER Filed Feb. 26, 1964 Sheet 2 of 4 INVENTORS WILHELM VOIGTOSCAR KIND Q'daa! their ATTCRNEY Feb. 4, 1969 w. VOIGT ET AL LABELDISPENSER Sheet Filed Feb. 26, 1964 INVENTORS WILHELM VOIGT OSCAR KINDBY fiwzabz /9 their ATTORNEY Sheet W. VOIGT ET AL LABEL DISPENSER Feb.4, 1969 Filed Feb. 26, 1964 INVENTORS WILHELM VOIGT OSCAR KIND BY figdadffii er their ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 4, 1969 M 55,912 US. (:1. 101-29225 Claims Int. Cl. B41f 15/24,- B65h 25/02 The present invention relatesto dispensers in general, and more particularly to an improved apparatusfor dispensing comparatively stiff adhesive-coated labels which adhereto one side of a flexible carrier strip and which are automaticallyseparated in response to flexing of the strip around a sharp edge, asmall roller or a similar defiector. Still more particularly, theinvention relates to an apparatus which, in addition to dispensingadhesive-coated labels, also serves to provide such labels with printedmatter representing the date, the price or other information pertainingto the objects or articles to which the labels are applied.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an apparatus ofthe above outlined characteristics which is constructed and assembled insuch a way that each of a series of consecutive labels may be imprintedat exactly the same spot as all other labels and that such uniformapplication of printed matter or imprints may be effected even if thelength of or the spacing between the labels is not uniform.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined dispensing andimprinting apparatus for adhesivecoated labels wherein the applicationof printed matter to consecutive labels takes place while the labels areheld against any movement with reference to the imprinting device andwherein the application of printed matter takes place sufliciently aheadof the dispensing station so that, and provided the printed matterrequires some time to dry, it will have ample time for drying prior toactual separation -from the carrier strip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel arresting devicewhich may be used in a dispensing apparatus of the above outlinedcharacteristics and which is capable of automatically arresting thecarrier strip and the labels at the exact time when a label is inaccurate registry with the imprinting device.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved webconsisting of a flexible carrier strip and of a row of labels adhesivelyapplied to one side of the strip, this web being produced for use in theapparatus of the present invention so as to enable the arresting deviceto insure that the web will intermittently advance through suchdistances as are necessary to move consecutive labels in accurateregistry with the imprinting device.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a novel actuatingmechanism for use in an apparatus of the above outlined characteristicsand to construct the actuating mechanism in such a way that a singlemanipulation thereof suffices to initiate and to complete a series ofoperations in requisite timed relationship with reference to each other.

With the above objects in view, one feature of our invention resides inthe provision of an apparatus for imprinting and dispensing acomparatively stiff adhesivecoated tape forming or about to yield a rowof labels carried by one side of a flexible carrier strip andconstituting with such strip an elongated web having unevennesses spacedfrom each other longitudinally of the strip by distances at leastapproximating the length of a label. The apparatus comprises advancingmeans operative to effect intermittent advances of the web lengthwisethrough distances exceeding the distance between consecutiveunevennesses and including a slip clutch which yields in response to apredetermined resistance against further advance of the strip, adeflector adjacent to the other side of the strip at a point ahead ofthe advancing means and arranged to deflect the strip sufficiently toeffect at least partial separation of the tape or of consecutive labelsfrom the one side of the strip, an imprinting device including a pair ofnormally spaced printing members located ahead of the deflector at theopposite sides of the Web whereby one of these printing members may movetoward the other printing member to provide impressions in or to applyprinted matter on the exposed side of the tape or on the exposed side ofa given label, an arresting device including a sensing member arrangedto detect consecutive unevennesses in the web and means for arrestingthe web in response to detection of such unevennesses so as to producethe aforementioned predetermined resistance to further advance of thestrip, and actuating means arranged to move the one printing membertoward the other printing member in synchronism with the arrestingdevice and to simultaneously operate the advancing means so that theprinting members imprint the tape or a label while the arresting deviceis effective to hold the strip against movement.

Thus, while the advancing means is capable of advancing the web throughdistances which exceed the length of a label, it cannot advance the webwhen the printing members cooperate to imprint a label because thesensing member initiates a clamping action upon the web whereby the slipclutch allows the advancing means to continue its movement in responseto movement of the actuating means but without effecting further advanceof the strip. Such operation insures that each label, regardless of itslength and regardless of the distance between consecutive labels, isimprinted at exactly the same spot as all other labels.

The unevennesses may consist of circular or roof shaped protuberances,of cutouts provided in the labels and/ or in the carrier strip, or suchunevennesses may take the form of slightly separated marginal portionsof consecutive labels which will be separated from the strip in responseto deflection of the web around a suitable guide roll or the like.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved dispensing apparatus itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and the mode of operating the same, together withadditional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood uponperusal of the following detailed description of certain specificembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectionthrough the housing of a combined dispensing and imprinting apparatuswhich embodies one form of our invention, the apparatus being shown inidle position when the actuating means is ready to advance a web so asto effect partial separation of an imprinted label from the carrierstrip and simultaneous printing of another label;

FIG. 2 is a similar fragmentary longitudinal vertical section andillustrates the apparatus in operative position at the time a freshlabel is in registry with the imprinting device and while the web isclamped by an arresting member which is constructed in accordance withone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through a web which may be utilized inthe apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a modified webwith roof shaped unevennesses;

FIG. 4b is a transverse section as sen in the direction 3 of arrows fromthe line IVIV of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through a seconddispensing apparatus which comprises a modified arresting member for adifferent web wherein the unevennesses take the form of longitudinallyspaced cutouts;

FIG. 6 is a similar longitudinal vertical section through the secondapparatus and illustrates the modified arresting member in operativeposition;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a web which may be used in the apparatus ofFIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary schematic side elevational view of a portion ofa third dispensing apparatus wherein the web develops unevennesses in afully automatic way in response to deflection of its strip around aguide roll.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a combined dispensing andimprinting apparatus including a housing having a base plate A andsupporting two vertically spaced guide rolls 9, 9 which are rotatableabout horizontal axes. A web W is trained around the guide rolls 9, 9 insuch a way that it may travel in an elongated path including asubstantially horizontal portion adjacent to the upper side of the baseplate A and a substantially vertical portion tangential to the guiderolls 9, 9. The web W is then led around a small deflector roller 3which is located at a level above and to the left of the guide roll 9and which is mounted on an adjustable supporting arm 31:.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the web W comprises a flexible carrier strip 1preferably consisting of synthetic plastic material and a row of closelyadjacent adhesivecoated labels 2 which are rather stiff (in comparisonwith the stiffness of the strip 1) and which adhere to one side of thestrip. The labels together form an elongated tape which has been severedto yield a row of sections so that each section constitutes a label. Thelength l of a label 2 approximates the distance a between the centers ofconsecutive unevennesses 25 provided in the web W for the purpose to bedescribed later. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the unevennesses 25take the form of substantially circular hollow protuberances which areprovided in the strip 1 and in each of the labels 2 at pointssubstantially midway between the longitudinal ends 38 of the labels. Forexample, the labels may consist of paper whose stiffness exceeds thestiffness of the strip 1, and one side of each label is coated withsuitable paste to cause its adherence to the upper side of the strip.The ditference in stiffness of the labels 2 and strip 1 is such that,while travelling around the deflector roll 3, the labels areautomatically separated from (Le, peeled off) the strip in a mannershown in FIG. 1 which illustrates an imprinted label 2' in a state ofpartial separation from the strip. This label may be grasped by twofingers to be applied to a piece of merchandise or, alternatively, theapparatus may be combined with a suitable applicator roller which isclosely adjacent to the roll 3 and which automatically transfers thelabel 2' onto a wrapper or directly onto an article of merchandise orthe like. Such applicator rollers are known in the art of labeldispensers and need not be described here.

The means for intermittently advancing the web W in the aforementionedpath comprising a pair of cooperating advancing rollers including adriven roller 7 of larger diameter and an idler roller 8 of smallerdiameter. These advancing rollers are positioned at the opposite sidesof the strip 1 and are located past the deflector roll 3, as seen in thedirection in which the web W advances. Their peripheral surfaces may bemilled, knurled or otherwise roughened to make sure that the strip 1 isadvanced without undue slippage when the driven roller 7 is rotated by aone-way clutch 12. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, this one-wayclutch 12 comprises an annular outer clutch element 12a, an annularinner clutch element 12b which is rigidly secured to a horizontal shaft120, a radial arm 11a which is fixed to the shaft 120 or to the innerclutch element 12b, and a follower roller 11 which is mounted on the arm11a to extend in the path of a block-shaped motion transmitting portion10a provided on a reciprocable actuating lever 10. Suitable sprags (notshown) are provided between the clutch elements 12a, 12b to make surethat the element 12a rotates only when the element 12b rotates in aclockwise direction. The arm 11a is biased by a spring 11b so as tomaintain the follower roller 11 in permanent abutment with the motiontransmitting portion 10a. The lever 10 is reciprocable in directionsindicated by a doubleheaded arrow 10b and may move between the full-lineposition of FIG. 1 and the phantom-line position 10' to rotate the outerclutch element 12a in a clockwise direction and through an angle whichis greater than necessary to advance the web W by a distance a or I.

The advancing means further comprises a slip clutch 13 which connectsthe outer clutch element 12a with the advancing roller 7 and which isconstructed in such a way that it yields in response to a predeterminedresistance to further advance of the strip 1. As shown in FIG. 1, theslip clutch 13 comprises a coupling member 16 which is reciprocable in aradial bore 7a of the advancing roller 7, a helical spring 15 whichbiases the coupling member 16 radially inwardly, an adjusting screw 14which is received in the open outer end of the bore 7a and which servesto regulate the bias of the spring 15, and a substantially conical tip16 provided at the inner end of the coupling member 16 and adapted toenter one of a series of circularly arranged recesses 18 provided in aring 19 surrounding the bottom surface of a peripheral groove machinedin the outer coupling element 12a. FlG. 1 illustrates a single recess 18but there are actually several such recesses properly distributed aboutthe axis of the shaft 12c.

The imprinting device of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprisesa plate-like fixed printing memher 5 which is adjacent to the exposedside of the strip 1 at a point between the guide rolls 9, 9 and areciprocable printing member here shown as an angularly adjustablecylinder 6 which is mounted on a second motion transmitting portion orbracket of the actuating lever 10. The printing member 6 is reciprocablewith the lever 10 and takes the phantom-line position 6' when the lever19 is caused to assume the position 10 whereby the printing members 5, 6cooperate to apply printed matter to the exposed side of a label 2"which is temporarily arrested between the printing members in apredetermined position in which the printed matter is applied to aselected portion thereof. For example, the printing member 6 may be acylindrical dater which comprises several rings provided with numbersindicating hours, days, months and years so that each label may be datedprior to its transfer to a piece of merchandise, such as a boxcontaining a roll of unexposed film or the like. Also, the printingmember 6 may serve as a means for imprinting the labels with the priceof articles to which the labels are applied at a point past thedeflector roll 3. All that counts is to provide an imprinting devicewhich may be actuated by the lever 10 in such a way that eachconsecutive label received one or more lines of printed matter or othersuitable indicia in response to each movement of the lever to thephantom-line position 10'.

The apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 further comprises a specially constructedarresting device which serves to disconnect the one-way clutch 12 fromthe driven advancing roller 7 at the very moment when a fresh label 2"is properly aligned with the printing member 6. This arresting devicecomprises a sensing element here shown as a rockable pin 20 which isclosely adjacent to the exposed sides of the labels 2 and which isnormally positioned at such a distance from the horizontal portion ofthe web W that it extends into the path of protuberances 25. In FIG. 1,the sensing pin 20 is illustrated in idle (detecting) position in whichit is out of contact with the nearest protuberance 25' and issubstantially perpendicular to the web. This pin extends radially from arockable supporting member here shown as a horizontal cylinder 26 whichis rotatable about the axis of a shaft 22 and carries a second radialpin 23 serving as an arresting member in that its tip 24 may clamp theweb W against a backing plate 24a provided on the base A. In theposition of FIG. 1, the tip 24 is sufficiently spaced from the web W toallow for advance of this web in a direction toward the guide roller 9.In other words, the tip 24 is located at such a level that it isslightly above the protuberances 25 and is maintained in such positionby a resilient element here shown as a helical spring 21 acting againsta plunger 23 which is reciprocable in a short cylinder 27. The outer endof the plunger 29 carries a small locking roll 30 which extends into aperipheral cutout of the supporting member 26. The ends of this cutoutare bounded by two angularly spaced stop faces 32, 33, and the cylinder27 is rockable about the axis of a horizontal shaft 28 which is parallelto the shaft 22. The supporting member 26 is connected With an upwardlyextending locator stud 36 which is rockable between two horizontalabutment members 35, 35a secured to the housing of the apparatus. Thecylinder 27 is connected with an upwardly extending rocking arm 37 whichis located in the path of the motion transmitting portion c.

The dot-dash line 31 indicates the common plane of the axes of theshafts 22, 28, and the position of this plane may be adjusted by twoadjusting members in the form of eccentrics 34, 34a which arerespectively connected to the shafts 22, 28 and are rotatably journalledin the side walls of the housing, not shown. In other words, by rotatingthe eccentrics 34, 34a, the operator may change the distance between thetips of the rockable pins 20, 24 and the upper side of the web W. Theshafts 22, 28 are perpendicular to that portion of the web which isadjacent to the arresting station, and the pin 23 is located ahead ofthe pin as seen in the direction in which the web advances past thearresting device.

The apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 operates as follows:

When the apparatus is idle (see FIG. 1), the stud 36 engages theabutment member 35a and the locking roll 30 abuts against the lower stopface 32 whereby the tip of the sensing pin 20 is located at a levelbelow the uppermost point of the protuberance but the tip 24 of thearresting pin 23 is located above the uppermost point of theprotuberance 25'. The rocking arm 37 abuts against the motiontransmitting portion 100 which is held in such position by a returnspring 10d connected with the actuating lever 10. The tip 16' of thecoupling member 16 extends into one of the recesses 18 so that theone-way clutch 12 is connected with and may drive the advancing roller7. The printing member 6 is spaced from the printing member 5 and aportion of the'label 2' is partially separated from the strip 1 or,alternatively, this label 2 has been removed from the strip and has beenapplied to a box, wrapper or directly to an article, as the case may be.

If the operator thereupon desires to dispense the next label 2", theactuating lever 10 is shifted in a direction to the right, as viewed inFIG. 1, to initiate a series of operations including rocking the radialarm 11:: through an angle which is large enough to rotate the clutchelements 12a, 12b to the extent necessary to advance the web W through adistance exceeding the distance a or I. When the actuating lever 10 hasbeen moved to the phantom-line position 10', the parts 10a, 11, 11a,100, 6 respectively take the phantom-line positions 10a, 11, 11a, 100,6' which means that the printing members 5, 6 cooperate to imprint alabel 2" at a point adjacent to the leading portion of this label andspaced from the protuberance 25".

As the actuating lever 10 moves toward the phantomline position 10', itsmotion transmitting portion 10c moves away from the rocking arm 37 sothat the cylinder 27 is free to rock in a clockwise direction. As theadvancing rollers 7, 8 entrain the strip 1, the web W advances towardthe deflector roll 3 and the protuberance 25' engages the tip of thesensing pin 20 to rock the supporting member 26 in a counterclockwisedirection whereby the tip 24 of the arresting pin 23 engages the nearestlabel 2 and clamps the web W against the backing plate 24a. The member23 is then substantially perpendic ular to the web. Such clamping actiontakes place before the motion transmitting portion 10a reaches theposition 10a, i.e., before the follower roller 11 reaches the position11'. The clamping action of the arresting pin 23 is assisted by thespring 21 which causes the locking roll 30 to abut against the stop face33 (see FIG. 2) and to move the stud 36 against the abutment member 35.The arresting pin 23 is then substantially vertical and the tip of thesensing pin 20 is located at a level slightly above the protuberance25'. The rocking arm 37 is moved to the position of FIG. 2 and is spacedfrom the motion transmitting portion 100.

As soon as the tip 24 of the arresting pin 23 prevents further advanceof the web W (and of the strip 1), the clutch element 12a overcomes thebias of the spring 15 and expels the tip 16' of the coupling member 16from the recess 18 so that the clutch element 12a continues to rotatebut the advancing roller 7 remains idle, Such slippage of the clutchelement 12a with reference to the advancing roller 7 will take 'place atthe exact moment when the leading portion of the label 2' is in registrywith the printing member 6 so that the members 5, 6 imprint this labelwhile the web W is idle. The resistance which the strip 1 offers tofurther rotation of the roller 7 may be adjusted by the screw 14, by theeccentric 34, and by proper selection of the arresting pin 23, i.e., byselection of a pin 23 which is long enough to engage and to clamp theweb W against the plate 24a in a given position of the actuating lever10.

When the web W is brought to a halt, the deflector roll 3 has causedpartial separation of the label 2" so that this label may be grasped byfingers or by an app icator to be automatically applied to a box or thelike. The intervals between consecutive rotations of the advancingroller 7 are normally long enough to insure that printed matter appliedby the member 6 is sufficiently dry prior to separation of such labelfrom the strip 1.

As soon as the operator releases the lever 10, the spring 10d contractsand returns the lever to the position of FIG. 1 which means that theprinting member 6 moves away from the printing member 5, that therocking arm 37 returns to the position of FIG. 1 to turn the supportingmember 26 in a clockwise direction, that the locking roll 30 abutsagainst the stop face 32, and that the stud 36 engages the abutmentmember 35a. The tip of the sensing pin 20 is now located in the path ofthe next following protuberance and will initiate a clamping action assoon as the actuating lever 10 is again displaced against the bias ofthe return spring 10d.

The mounting of the cylinder 29 is preferably such that the spring 21automatically snaps over a dead-center position when the cylinder 29 isrocked by the stop face 32 or by the motion transmitting portion 10c sothat the supporting member 26 is automatically compelled to take theposition of FIG. 1 or 2 but cannot remain in an intermediate position.

The tip 24 of the arresting pin 23 is more distant from the periphery ofthe supporting member 26 than the tip of the sensing pin 20, and each ofthese pins may be provide-d with threads to extend into tapped bores ofthe supporting cylinder. The scale of FIGS. 1 and 2 is too small to showthe threads on the pins 20, 23. The stop faces 32, 33 are respectivelylocated below and above the common plane 31 of the axes of shafts 22,28. Thus, when the tip 24 of the arresting pin 23 clamps the web W,

7 the axis of the locking roll 30 is located below the plane 31.

The guide roller 9 is adjustable in direction indicated by adouble-headed arrow 9a. Such adjustments are necessary when the operatordesires to apply printed matter to different portions of consecutivelabels. The same result can be achieved by changing the position of theprinting member 6 with reference to the motion transmitting portion 100and by effecting corresponding changes in the position of printingmember 5. By changing the position of the guide roller 9, the operatorchanges the length of that portion of the web W which extends betweenthe printing member and the arresting pin 23.

A very important advantage of unevennesses in the form of hollowcircular protuberances 25 is that they do not detract from theeye-pleasing appearance of the labels and that they may be formedwithout Waste, i.e., without necessitating actual separation of materialfrom the labels or from the strip 1. As a rule, such protuberances maybe formed simultaneously with the severing of labels 2 from each other.Thus, the labels 2 are normally cut from an elongated tape one side ofwhich is coated with adhesive to adhere to the carrier strip 1, and suchtape is severed at regular intervals (as indicated at 38 in FIG. 3) toyield the labels 2. The severing step may be performed by cutters ofknown design and may be accompanied by simultaneous formation ofprotuberances 25 so that the labels are severed from the tape and theweb W is provided with protuberances in a single operation. The housingof the dispensing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 preferablyaccommodates a reel of convoluted web W which is located to the left ofthe arresting pin 23 and which pays out the web at a rate at which thestrip 1 is advanced between the rollers 7, 8.

In many instances, the web may be provided with unevennesses in the formof substantially roof-shaped protuberances 125 which are illustrated inFIGS. 4a and 4b. The web W again comprises a flexible carrier strip 101and a series of adhesive-coated labels 102 whose material is somewhatstiffer than the material of the strip. Each protuberance 125 comprisesa strongly inclined flat leading face 125a, a slightly inclined flattrailing face 126 and two rather slightly inclined flat lateral faces127. The angle alpha between the plane of the leading face 125a and thegeneral plane of the web W is about 60 degrees, and the angle betabetween the plane of the trailing face 126 and the general plane of theweb W is about degrees. The web W advances in a direction to the left,as viewed in FIGS. 4a and 412, so that the sensing pin 20 (not shown)engages the strongly inclined leading face 125a and thereupon turns thearresting pin 23 into strong clamping engagement with the respectivelabel 102. The faces 125a, 126 extend transversely of the web W, and thearea of each protuberance 125 is rather large which is of advantagebecause the web is less likely to tear when the protuberances are formedtherein. Also, such roof-shaped protuberances are not likely to undergosubstantial deformation (flattening) when the web W is rolled to form areel which is inserted in the housing of the dispensing apparatus.

It goes without saying that the unevennesses 25 or 125 need not alwaysbe provided in both layers of the web W or W. Thus, it would suffice toform such unevennesses only in the labels 2 or 102 so that the carrierstrip 1 or 101 remains free of depressions and may be reused as often asdesired. On the other hand, it is often desirable to form registeringunevennesses in both layers of the web W or W, particularly if thematerial of the labels is rather thin and is readily deformable, i.e.,when the protuberances in the labels are too weak to effect turning ofthe supporting member 26 and subsequent clamping of the web. As statedbefore, the strip 1 or 101 may consist of synthetic plastic material,preferably a thermoplastic substance which is deformed at elevatedtemperatures so that the unevennesses are actually frozen in itsmaterial when the plastic is allowed to set. Also, and as alreadyexplained in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, the unevennesses arepreferably provided in such portions of the labels 2 or 102 which arenot aligned with the printing member 6 when the web is arrested by thepin 23. In other words, it is preferred to apply printed matter to anon-deformed portion of each label.

A web W with following dimensions has been found to be quitesatisfactory for many purposes: The width of the web W may be about 25mm., the thickness of the strip 191 about 0.05 mm., the thickness of thelabels 102 about 0.1 mm., the length l of the labels 102 about 20 mm.,the width B of the protuberances (between the outer ends of the lateralfaces 127) about 3 mm., the height H of the protuberances 125 about 0.2mm., and the overall length L of the protuberances 125 about 1.3 mm.

The protuberances 25 or 125 may be replaced by substantially conicalprotuberances, particularly if the material of the labels is rather thinand readily deformable, and it is equally possible to provideprotuberances only in the strip 1 or 101, particularly if the sensingpin is located at the exposed side of the strip. Such mounting of thesensing pin would necessitate slight alterations of the apparatus shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 but would not constitute a departure from the spiritand scope of the present invention.

The protuberances 125 may be formed simultaneously with severing of apaper tape along transverse lines 138 (see FIG. 4a) to yield a row ofseparate but closely adjacent labels 102.

The apparatus of our invention may be used to dispense labels ofdifferent lengths as long as the length of a label does not exceed themaximum distance which a point on the periphery of the advancing roller7 may cover in response to movement of the lever 10 from the full-lineposition to the phantom-line position 10. When the web W or W isreplaced by a web with labels of dilferent length, the apparatus willcontinue to apply printed matter to the same spot on each consecutivelabel because the selection of such spots depends on the position ofprotuberances. In other words, the apparatus automatically detects thepresence of a different web because its operation is not dependent onthe exact length of or spacing between the labels but solely on thedistance between consecutive unevennesses. Consequently, the dimensionsof the labels may be reduced to such an extent that each label is justlarge enough to accommodate all printed matter, i.e., there is no needfor margins around the printed matter because the likelihood ofmisprinting is very remote, this being due to the fact that each of aseries of labels receives printed matter at exactly the same spot as allother labels.

The apparatus is also useful for dispensing and imprinting of partiallyprinted labels such as may be provided with the name, address and/ortrademark of the manufacturer, distributor or retailer prior toinsertion of a web into the dispenser. Thus, the printed matter appliedto the labels prior to insertion of a web into the apparatus of ourinvention may cover a smaller or larger area of each label as long asthe remaining blank space is just large enough to accommodate theimprints produced by the numbers 5 and 6.

Still further, the labels need not be separated from each other prior todispensing from the apparatus. Thus, the row of labels 2 or 102 may bereplaced by a continuous tape which is peeled off the strip, while thelatter travels around the roll 3, and such tape is thereupon severed toyield a series of labels. For example, such a tape may be severedautomatically by a cutter located past the roll 3 and actuated by thelever 10 when the latter performs a working stroke.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate portions of a modified dispensing apparatuswhich differentiates from the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 in theconstruction of the arresting device and in that it utilizes a differentweb W" having a flexible carrier strip 1 and a series of adhesive-coatedlabels 202 which are applied to one side of the strip. The unevennessestake the form of substantially elliptical cutouts 39, best shown in FIG.7, which are formed in the edge portions of the labels and in the strip1 so that each cutout 39 is formed partially in the trailing edgeportion of a preceding label and partially in the leading edge portionof the next following label. Of course, each label 202 may be providedwith one or more cutouts at a point other than immediately adjacent toone of its edge portions; however, the structure shown in FIG. 7 ispreferred because the same cutter which severs a tape to yieldconsecutive labels 202 may be used to remove material from the spotswhich are to form the cutouts 39. In other words, the cuts 238 and thecutouts 39 may be formed not only in a simultaneous operation but alsowith the same cutting tool to reduce the overall cost of the web W".

Referring again to FIGS. and 6, the modified arresting device comprisesa rockable supporting member 43 which is turnable about a horizontalshaft 45 and which carries a pin 58 extending between the prongs 56 of abifurcated rocking member here shown as a two-armed lever 55. Thisrocking member is turnable about a horizontal shaft 57 and is adjacentto the motion transmitting portion 10c of the actuating lever 10. Thesupporting member 43 carries a horizontal pivot 42 for a sensing member40 which is biased by a helical expansion spring 41 provided in a boreof the member 43. The spring 41 normally maintains the sensing member 40in abutment with a stop shoulder 43a of the supporting member 43 and incontact with the web W". The member 43 is provided with a wedge shapedextension 44 which constitutes an arresting member and which is slightlyspaced from the labels 202 when the actuating lever 10 is in theretracted position of FIG. 5. The wedge-shaped tip of the sensing member40 then slides along the upper side of the web W".

It will be noted that the shafts 45, 57 (which are supported by one orboth side walls of the housing, not shown) are located at the oppositesides of the pin 58 so that, when the lever 10 moves in a direction tothe right, as viewed in FIG. 5, and moves the motion transmittingportion 100 away from the rocking member 55, the supporting member 43may be turned in a counterclockwise direction as soon as the tip of thesensing member 40 enters the next following cutout 39. The wallsbounding the cutout 39 entrain the sensing member so that this sensingmember pivots about the pin 42 (in a counterclockwise direction, asviewedin FIG. 5) and descends along a shoulder 51 provided in the upperside of a backing plate 50 which is fixed to the base plate A. Suchmovement of the sensing member 40 causes the arresting member 44 to movenearer to the backing plate 50 and to clamp the web W" whereby the slipclutch 13 disconnects the advancing roller 7 from the one-way clutch 12and a selected portion of a label 202 is locate-d in exact registry withthe printing member 6. When the supporting member 43 rocks about theshaft 45, the pin 58 moves to a lower level and causes the rockingmember 55 to rotate in a clockwise direction so that its upwardlyextending arm projects into the path of the motion transmitting portion100. The exact position of the shaft 45 with reference to the backingplate 50 and web W" may be adjusted by an adjusting device including aneccentric 54.

When the actuating lever 10 is caused or permitted to return to theposition of FIG. 5, the motion transmitting portion 100 engages therocking member 55 and the pin 58 moves in an are about the shaft 57 (ina counterwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6) so as to lift thearresting member away from the web W and to retract the tip of thesensing member 40 from the cutout 39. The dispensing apparatus is nowready for the next operation. The label 202' shown in the upper part ofFIG. 5 is ready to be fully separated from the strip 1 which latter isdeflected around the roll 3 in the same way as described in connectionwith FIGS. 1 and 2. The construction of the advancingrollers, 7, 8, ofthe one-way clutch 12, and of the slip clutch 13 is the same asdescribed hereinbefore.

The clamping action of the arresting member 44 takes place suddenly assoon as the tip of the sensing member descends along the shoulder 51 ofthe backing plate 50. This is important because, by suddenly arrestingthe web W", the apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 6 insures that printed matteris applied to exactly the same spot on each of the labels 202 becausethe clutch 13 begins to slip at the very moment when the strip 1 hasbeen advanced by a distance corresponding to that between the centers oftwo consecutive cutouts 39.

It will be noted that the sensing member 40 is located ahead of thearresting member 44, as seen in the direction in which the Web W"advances past the arresting device, and that the pin 58 provides anarticulate connection between the supporting member 43 and rockingmember 55.

FIG. 8 illustrates a portion of a third apparatus wherein the sensingmember resembles a one-armed lever 60 which is rockable about ahorizontal pivot 60a fixed to the housing, not shown. This lever 60 isconnected with a suitable arresting member 70 which is caused to clampthe web as soon as the tip of the lever 60 comes in contact with and isrocked by a protuberance 63 provided at the leading edge of eachconsecutive label 302. These labels are carried by the outer side of aflexible strip 1 which travels around a guide roll 61. The lever 60 maybe mounted in such a way that it is engaged by a protuberance 63 at apoint 62 which is located on a line connecting the axis of the rollguide 61 with the axis of the pivot 60a. The operative connectionbetween the sensing lever 60 and the arresting member 70 is indicatedschematically by a phantom line 71. The imprinting device 5, 6 islocated past the guide roll 61 and adjacent to a horizontal portion ofthe path in which the web advances toward the deflector roll, not shown.

The protuberances 63 need not be actually machined in the material ofthe labels 302 and/or strip 1. Thus, and since the labels arecomparatively stiff, their front edges will become separated from theouter side of the strip when the latter is flexed around the peripheryof the guide roll 61 so that the formation of protuberances is fullyautomatic. As soon as a protuberance 63 advances beyond the sensinglever 60, the latter descends by gravity and is ready to be engaged bythe next protuberance. In other words, unevennesses in the web may beformed on purpose, such as by cutting or stamping, but it is equallypossible to convey the web in such a way that the labels will formprotuberances by becoming partially separated from the carrier strip. Infact, it is equally possible to provide protuberances on the peripheryof the guide roll 61 so that such protuberances deform the strip 1 andcause a portion of each consecutive label to engage the sensing lever60. One such projection is indicated by phantom lines at 61a in FIG. 8.

The length of the sensing lever 60 is preferably selected in such a waythat its tip engages the web at a point slightly beyond the point marked62 to make sure that this lever is not wedged against the web when thestrip 1 is advanced in a direction indicated by the arrow 72. It will benoted that, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the sensing lever 60 actuallydetects gaps between the edge portions 338 of adjacent labels, i.e., theunevennesses consist of protuberances 63 and of gaps or cutouts betweenthe labels.

In FIGURE 9 is shown a side view and in FIGURE 10 a top plan view of theweb W", which comprises a strip 401 and a continuous length of papertape 402 with protuberances 425. The paper tape 402 is already printedwith framings, firm names, trade marks 405 and/or the like per label. Onthis printed paper tape 402 prices and other marks will be printed bymeans of the apparatus as per the invention.

FIG. 11 shows a complete apparatus for imprinting and dispensing labels,in which the arresting mechanism as per FIGURES and 6 is used. Thisapparatus comprises a hood 500 which is placed on the base plate A. Anapplication roller 501 is located in such position, that it partlyprojects beyond the outline of the housing and that each label after ithas been separated from the carrier strip 1 bears with its non-adhesive.surface against the periphery of the application roller. Behind theapplication roller 501 there is a contact plate 502. which for eachoperating period sets the drive for the stamping or printing mechanism 6in motion, as soon as the object to be labeled is moved over theapplication roller 501 and the contact plate 502 is pressed down alittle. A spool 505 receives the supply roll of the web W.

The web W" will be unrolled from the supply roll.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptationsshould and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and rangeof equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for imprinting and dispensing a comparatively stiffadhesive-coated tape carried by one side of a flexible carrier strip andforming therewith an elongated web provided with unevennesses which arespaced from each other longitudinally of the strip, comprising advancingmeans operative to effect intermittent advances of the web lengthwisethrough distances exceeding the distance between consecutiveunevennesses and including a slip cl utch arranged to yield in responseto a predetermined resistance to further advance of the strip; adeflector adjacent to the other side of the strip at a point ahead ofsaid advancing means and arranged to deflect the strip sufficiently toeffect at least partial separation of tape from the other side of thestrip; an imprinting device including a pair of normally spacedcooperating printing members located at a point ahead of said deflectorand at the opposite sides of the Web, one of said printing members beingmovable toward the other printing member; an arresting device includinga sensing member arranged to detect consecutive unevennesses andarresting means for arresting the web in response to detection of anunevenness so as to produce said predetermined resistance to further adVance of the strip; and actuating means arranged to move said oneprinting member toward the other printing member in synchronism withsaid arresting device and to simul taneously operate said advancingmeans so that said printing members imprint the tape while the arrestingdevice is effective to hold the strip against movement.

2. An apparatus for imprinting and dispensing comparatively stiffadhesive-coated labels carried by one side of a flexible carrier stripand forming therewith an elongated web provided With unevennesses spacedfrom each other longitudinally of the strip by distances at leastsubstantially equal to the length of a label, comprising advancing meansoperative to effect intermittent advances of the web lengthwise throughdistances exceeding the distance between consecutive unevennesses andincluding a slip clutch arranged to yield in response to a predeterminedresistance against further advance of the strip; a deflector adjacent tothe other side of the strip at a point ahead of said advancing means andarranged to deflect the strip sufliciently to effect at least partialseparation of labels from the one side of the strip; an imprintingdevice including a pair of normally spaced printing members located at apoint ahead of said deflector at the opposite sides of the web, one ofsaid printing members being movable toward the other printing member; anarresting device including a sensing member arranged to detectconsecutive unevennesses in the web and means for arresting the web inresponse to detection of an unevenness so as to produce saidpredetermined resistance to (further advance of the strip; and actuatingmeans arranged to move said one printing member toward the otherprinting member in synchronism with said arresting device and tosimultaneously operate said advancing means so that said printingmembers imprint consecutive labels while the arresting device iseffective to hold the strip against movement.

3. An apparatus for imprinting and dispensing comparatively stiffadhesive-coated labels carried by one side of a flexible carrier stripand forming therewith an elongated web. provided with unevennessesspaced from each other longitudinally of the strip by distances at leastnearly equal to the length of a label, comprising advancing meansoperative to effect intermittent advances of the web lengthwise andincluding a pair of cooperating advancing rollers engaging the stripfrom the opposite sides thereof, one-way clutch means arranged to rotateone of said advancing rollers in a direction to advance the strip by adistance exceeding the distance between consecutive unevennesses, and aslip clutch normally connecting said oneway clutch means with said oneadvancing roller and arranged to disconnect said one advancing rollerfrom said one-way clutch means in response to a predetermined resistanceagainst frurther advance of the strip; a deflector adjacent to the otherside of the strip at a point ahead of said advancing means and arrangedto deflect the strip sufficiently to effect at least partial separationof labels from the other side of the strip; and imprinting deviceincluding a pair of normally spaced printing members located at a pointahead of said deflector and at the opposite sides of the Web, one ofsaid printing members being movable toward the other printing member; anarresting device including a sensing member arranged to detectconsecutive unevennesses in the web and means for arresting the web inresponse to detection of an unevenness so as to produce saidpredetermined resistance to further advance of the strip; and actuatingmeans arranged to move said one printing member toward the otherprinting member in synchronism with said arresting device and tosimultaneously operate said one way clutch means through an anglegreater than necessary to advance the strip through a distance equal tothe distance between consecutive unevennesses so that said slip clutchdisconnects said one advancing roller from said one-way clutch means andthe strip is held against further movement when said printing membersimprint a label.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the diameter of saidone advancing roller exceeds substantially the diameter of said otheradvancing roller and wherein said other advancing roller is an idlerroller.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said actuating meanscomprises a lever connected with said one printing member and movablebetween two spaced positions in one of which said one printing member isadjacent to and applies printed matter to a label, said lever comprisinga motion transmitting portion engaging and rotating said one-way clutchmeans when the lever is moved to said one position.

6. An apparatus for imprinting and dispensing a comparatively stiffadhesive-coated tape carried by one side of a flexible carrier strip andforming therewith an elongated web provided with unevennesses which arespaced from each other longitudinally of the strip, comprising advancingmeans operative to effect intermittent advances of the web lengthwisethrough distances exceeding the distance between consecutiveunevennesses and including a slip clutch arranged to yield in responseto a predetermined resistance to further advance of the strip; adeflector adjacent to the other side of the strip at a point ahead ofsaid advancing means and arranged to deflect the strip sufficiently toeffect at least partial separation of tape from the other side of thestrip; an imprinting device including a pair of normally spacedcooperating printing members located at a point ahead of said deflectorand at the opposite sides of the web, one of said printing members beingmovable toward the other printing member; an arresting device includinga rockable sensing member arranged to detect consecutive unevennesses,an arresting member rockable with said sensing member and arranged toarrest the web in response to detection of an unevenness so as toproduce said predetermined resistance to further advance of the strip, ashaft rockably supporting said arresting member and said sensing memberand extending transversely of the web, and resilient means arranged tooppose rocking of said sensing member in response to engagement with anunevenness when the web is in motion; and actuating means arranged tomove said one printing member.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said unevennessesconsist of protuberances provided in and extending beyond the exposedside of the tape, said arresting device further comprising a commonsupporting member rigid with said sensing member and said arrestingmember and rotatable about the axis of said shaft, said sensing memberbeing substantially perpendicular to the web in detecting positionthereof and said arresting member being substantially perpendicular tothe web in arresting position thereof.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said arresting memberis located ahead of said sensing member, as seen in the direction inwhich the web advances past said arresting device.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said arresting devicefurther comprises a cylinder, a second shaft parallel with said firstshaft and rockably supporting said cylinder, a plunger biased by saidresilient means and reciprocable in said cylinder, and a pair of stopmeans provided on said supporting member, one of said stop means beingengaged by said plunger when the arresting member engages the web andthe other stop means being engaged by said plunger when said sensingmember extends into the path of said protuberances.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said resilient meansis a helical spring which automatically holds said plunger in engagementwith one of said stop means.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further comprising adjustingmeans for regulating the distance between said second shaft and the web.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said actuating meansis arranged to move said one printing member away from the otherprinting member and wherein said arresting device further comprises arocking member connected with said cylinder and arranged to be engagedby said actuating means during movement of said one printing member awayfrom the other printing member so as to move said plunger intoengagement with said other stop means.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising adjustingmeans for regulating the distance between said shaft and the web.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 further comprising housingmeans for said advancing means, said adjusting means comprisingeccentric means rotatably journalled in said housing means and connectedwith said shaft so that the distance between said shaft and the web maybe regulated by rotation of said eccentric means.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising abutmentmeans for limiting rocking movements of said arresting member and saidsensing member.

16. An apparatus for imprinting and dispensing comparatively stiffadhesive-coated labels carried by one side of a flexible carrier stripand forming therewith an elongated web provided with cutouts spaced fromeach other longitudinally of the strip by distances at leastsubstantially equal to the length of a label, comprising advancing meansoperative to effect intermittent advances of the web lengthwise throughdistances exceeding the distances between consecutive cutouts andincluding a slip clutch arranged to yield in response to a predeterminedresistance to further advance of the strip; a deflector adjacent to theother side of the strip at a point ahead of said advancing means andarranged to deflect the strip sufiiciently to effect separation oflabels from the other side of the strip; an imprinting device includinga pair of normally spaced printing members located at a point ahead ofsaid deflector and at the opposite sides of the web, one of saidprinting members being movable toward the other printing member; anarresting device including a sensing member arranged to detectconsecutive cutouts in said web and arresting means for arresting theweb in response to detection of a cutout so as to produce saidpredetermined resistance to further advance of the strip; and actuatingmeans arranged to move said one printing member toward the otherprinting member in synchronism with said arresting device and tosimultaneously operate said advancing means so that said printingmembers imprint consecutive labels while the arresting device iseffective to hold the strip against movement.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said arresting devicefurther comprises a shaft extending transversely of the web, asupporting member rockable on said shaft, pivot means connecting saidsensing member with said supporting member and located ahead of saidshaft as seen in the direction in which the web advances past saidarresting device, and resilient means arranged to bias said sensingmember against the web so that a portion of the sensing member enters acutout and rocks said supporting member when the web is advanced pastsaid arresting device, said arresting means comprising an arrestingmember rigid with said supporting member and located past said sensingmember.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further comprising adjustingmeans for regulating the distance between said shaft and the Web.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said actuating meansis arranged to move said one printing member away from said otherprinting member, said arresting device further comprising rocking meansoperatively connected with said supporting member and arranged to berocked by said actuating means to withdraw said sensing member from acutout in response to movement of said one printing member away from theother printing member.

'20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said rocking meanscomprises a second shaft parallel with said first shaft, a two-armedlever rockable about said second shaft and including a first armextending into the path of said actuating means and a second armarticulately connected with said supporting member.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further comprising a backingmember located opposite said sensing member and said arresting memberand arranged to cooperate with said arresting member to clamp the webwhen said supporting member is rocked by said sensing member.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein said backing memberis provided with a shoulder in the path of said sensing member when thesensing member extends through a cutout so that, on advance of the webpast said arresting device, the sensing member descends along saidshoulder and moves said arresting member in clamping engagement with theweb.

23. An apparatus for imprinting and dispensing comparatively stiffadhesive-coated labels carried by one side of a flexible carrier stripand forming therewith an elongated web provided with unevennesses spacedfrom each other longitudinally of the strip by distances at leastsubstantially equal to the length of a label, comprising advancing meansoperative to effect intermittent advances of the Web lengthwise throughdistances exceeding the distance between consecutive unevennesses andincluding a slip clutch arranged to yield in response to predeterminedresistance to further advance of the strip; a deflector adjacent to theother side of the strip at a point ahead of said advancing means andarranged to deflect the strip sufiiciently to elfect at least partialseparation of labels from the other side of the strip; an imprintingdevice including a pair of normally spaced printing members located at apoint ahead of said deflector at the opposite sides of the web, one ofsaid printing members being movable toward the other printing member; anarresting device including a sensing member arranged to detectconsecutive unevennesses in the web and arresting means for arrestingthe Web in response to detection of an unevenness so as to produce saidpredetermined resistance to further advance of the strip; actuatingmeans arranged to move said one printing member toward the otherprinting member in synchronism with said arresting device and tosimultaneously operate said advancing means so that said printingmembers imprint consecutive labels While the arresting device iseffective to hold the strip against movement; and a guide member locatedopposite said sensing member for flexing said web so as to separate theleading edge portions of consecutive labels from' the tape and intoengagement with said sensing member whereby such leading edge portionsconstitute the unevennesses in the web.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said guide member isa roll and wherein said sensing member is a level rockable by gravity inengagement with that portion of the web which is trained around saidroll, the tape of said web being located between the labels and theperiphery of said roll so that the labels pass along said lever.

25. An apparatus for imprinting and dispensing comparatively stiffadhesive-coated labels carried by one side of a flexible carrier stripand forming therewith an elongated web provided with unevennesses spacedfrom each other longitudinally of the strip by distances at leastsubstantially equal to the length of a label, comprising advancing meansoperative to effect intermittent advances of the web lengthwise throughdistances exceeding the distance between consecutive unevennesses andincluding a slip clutch arranged to yield in response to a predeterminedresistance to further advance of the strip; 'a deflector adjacent to theother side of the strip at a point ahead of said advancing means andarranged to deflect the strip sufficiently to effect at least partialseparation of labels from the other side of the strip; an imprintingdevice including a pair of normally spaced printing members located at apoint ahead of said detector and at the opposite sides of the web, oneof said printing members being movable toward the other printing member;an arresting device including a sensing member arranged to detectconsecutive unevennesses and arresting means for arresting the web on adetection of an unevenness so as to produce said predeterminedresistance to further advance of the strip; actuating means arranged tomove said one printing member toward the other printing member ins-ynchronism with said arresting device and to simultaneously operatesaid advancing means so that said printing members imprint consecutivelabels While the arresting device is effective to hold the strip againstmovement; and an adjustable guide roller provided for the webintermediate said arresting device and said imprinting device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,522,224 9/1950 Hedinger 1012882,689,525 9/1954 Anker et a1 101-292 2,696,784 12/1954 Geiler 101-292DOUGLAS J. DRUMMOND, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. l01233; 156384

1. AN APPARATUS FOR IMPRINTING AND DISPENSING A COMPARATIVELY STIFFADHESIVE-COATED TAPE CARRIED BY ONE SIDE OF A FLEXIBLE CARRIER STRIP ANDFORMING THEREWITH AN ELONGATED WEB PROVIDED WITH UNEVENNESSES WHICH ARESPACED FROM EACH OTHER LONGITUDINALLY OF THE STRIP, COMPRISING ADVANCINGMEANS OPERATIVE TO EFFECT INTERMITTENT ADVANCES OF THE WEB LENGTHWISETHROUGH DISTANCES EXCEEDING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN CONSECUTIVEUNEVENNESSES AND INCLUDING A SLIP CLUTCH ARRANGED TO YIELD IN RESPONSETO A PREDETERMINED RESISTANCE TO FURTHER ADVANCE OF THE STRIP; ADEFLECTOR ADJACENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRIP AT A POINT AHEAD OFSAID ADVANCING MEANS AND ARRANGED TO DEFLECT THE STRIP SUFFICIENTLY TOEFFECT AT LEAST PARTIAL SEPARATION OF TAPE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THESTRIP; AN IMPRINTING DEVICE INCLUDING A PAIR OF NORMALLY SPACEDOPERATING PRINTING MEMBERS LOCATED AT A POINT AHEAD OF SAID DEFLECTORAND AT THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE WEB, ONE OF SAID PRINTING MEMBERS BEINGMOVABLE TOWARD THE OTHER PRINTING MEMBER; AN ARRESTING DEVICE INCLUDINGA SENSING MEMBER ARRANGED TO DETECT CONSECUTIVE UNEVENNESSES ANDARRESTING MEANS FOR ARRESTING THE WEB IN RESPONSE TO DETECTION OF ANUNEVENNESSES SO AS